What approach should you take when reading aloud to children?

When reading aloud to children, selecting a few useful vocabulary words to teach is an effective approach because it enhances their language development and comprehension skills. By introducing new words in the context of a story, children can build their vocabulary while also understanding how to use those words in meaningful ways. This method fosters an interactive and engaging learning environment, where children feel encouraged to ask questions and relate to the content.

Through this strategy, children not only enjoy the narrative but also acquire language in a way that feels natural and contextual. Teaching vocabulary during read-aloud sessions allows children to make connections between words, their meanings, and how they're used in sentences. It also promotes discussion and engagement, further enriching the reading experience.

The other approaches may miss out on creating a rich learning opportunity. Focusing solely on the plot may overlook the educational benefits of vocabulary expansion. Encouraging silent reading doesn’t facilitate the guided learning that read-aloud sessions provide, and using only known vocabulary limits children's exposure to new language experiences. Integrating vocabulary instruction into read-aloud is crucial for emergent literacy development.